I pride myself on my skills of talking too much and photojournalism to use the camera and light to tell a story. I am far from a skilled expert in Photoshop. I am also NOT one of those photographers that likes to make dinosaurs chase wedding parties. I am sure you have all seen those […]

So the question is, can a Nikon D750 “replace” a Nikon D3s? Well, yes and no. Sort of. Maybe. Hmmm.

This is not a review. These are just some observations about the new D750. If I am all over the place it is because this camera is sort of unique. Better than a D3/D4 in some ways, but built to lesser standards. However, it is truly a great camera.

When the D750 was first announced I was disappointed. Most Nikon folks were waiting for (and still are) a D700 replacement. Well, I think it is time for people to move on. Nikon has shown that they really like these smaller bodies. In fact, I do too. The last wedding I just shot was my first outing with the D750. The D3s served as my main camera with the D750 tagging along as a rookie. Well, it is safe to say that the D750 is up to the task of wedding photography. The lighter body was welcomed and the deeper grip is one of the best I have experienced. But, what really floored me was the autofocus speed. Oh my! You really have to experience it. It focuses down to -3 EV. So, it basically sees in the dark. It was really remarkable. It focuses easily at the limits of what humans can see when the lights go out. It would grab focus in the middle of a dark dance floor and find contrast in the absolute worse lighting conditions. I don’t think it missed one shot all night.

So is it better than a D3s? Naah. I still love the D3s for what it is. A tank. It is a machine built to take abuse and keep on shooting. The D750 is built like a Formula 1 race car…true in many ways since it is a mix of carbon fiber and magnesium alloy. But, you cannot help but feel it is so much of a D7000 or D600 when you hold it. That is not a bad thing, in fact, it is a major advantage when holding a camera for 8 hours. But, I would not feel as comfortable dropping it in mud.

The High ISO is crazy great. The AF speed is insane. The tilty LCD screen comes in handy when you want to grab a high shot looking down on the dance floor. It is a great all-around tool that will (and has) replace many D3’s and D4’s in the bags of a lot of wedding photographers. I could be very happy with 2 D750 bodies. But, there is still no replacing the overall speed of a Nikon Flagship body. The D3s is better at getting out of the way and allowing you to make a picture. The D750/D3s combo is a powerful duo that I am looking forward to using again at my next gig.

I think Nikon really hit a homer with this camera. It is at home both at a fast-paced wedding as well as your child’s softball game. It balances fine with a variety of lenses and it is comfy and light. The video is supposed to be awesome, but I have not even used it yet.

If Nikon put the guts of this camera into a D800 body and charged $2500 it would probably be the best camera on the planet. But, Nikon is not foolish enough to make the same mistake they made with the D700. They won’t give you a D4 for the price of a D750. That is pretty much what the D700 was, a mini-D3. We were teased by Nikon’s mistake, but that’s ok, the D750 is more than capable and I think it is time to accept this body as the real D700 replacement. Bravo Nikon.

This will be the shortest blog post I have ever done. Do you need 36mp? Here is the full image shot with a D800 and 85mm lens wide open. Now, look at the crop (you gotta click on the photo to really appreciate it)… Look at me. You can see me in the eyes. […]

When I started seriously getting into photography I was always told by those more experienced than me that it is “all about the glass.” “Forget buying the newest camera bodies,” they would say. Did I listen? No. Not me. duh. Well, now I am saying it. Maybe those that are brand new to photography will […]

It’s not often that you get to spend time with a true master. I heard about Youxin Ye online from pretty much everyone on the planet that is somehow connected to Leica cameras. Just ask anyone who the best person to repair such a fine instrument is and you will probably hear Mr. Ye’s […]

The Leica M8 is 8 years-old. A lifetime in digital technology. And yet, the M8 is as popular as ever. There are dozens of new reviews online, all written within the last 2 years. That is astonishing considering the fact that it has since been replaced by the M9 and the M240. So why is […]